Part 8

Now turn we to Abraham.

NV bi-oueð uſ to wenden a-gen, And of abrah_a_m ſong under-gon. 1160

On the morrow he looked toward Sodom,

Abraha_m_ up on morgen ſtod, Wið reuli lote and frigti mod;

[142] MS. ſono.

[143] MS. hene.

[144] _read_ ðogt.

ABRAHAM DWELLS IN GERAR.

and saw that the city had been destroyed.

To-ward ſodome he ſag ðe roke And ðe brinfires ſtinken[145] ſmoke, 1164

For sorrow he left Mamre's dale

And wente a-wei fro mambre dale, So ſore him reu of ðat bale.

and went and abode in Gerar.

Suðen he wente & wunede i_n_ geraris, bi-twen cade and vr, y-wis; 1168

There he said Sarah was his sister.

ðor he ſeide eft, for luue of lif, ðat ſiſter wore ſarra his wif. Q_u_ilu_m_ of[146] er [147]pharraon hire toc, Nu takeð abimalech hire oc; 1172

[Fol. 23b.] Abimelech took her to wife.

Sene it was ðat ghe waſ fair wif, Quan ghe waſ luued in ſo long lif. Abimalech wurð ſek on-on,

Sickness fell on him and on his folk.

And oðer wreche iſ folc cam on; 1176 Nogt wif-kinnes non birðe ne nam, ðor q_u_iles he ðor wið-helð ſaram. On dreme him cam tidi_n_g for-q_u_at

The cause of this evil was made known to him in a dream.

He ðrowede and ðolede un-timing ðat; 1180 Al it waſ for abraham-iſ wif, ðat he hire held ðor wið ſtrif; ðo bi-ðhogte him ful wel, And ſente after abraha_m_ ðat ilc ſel, 1184

He sent back Sarah,

And bi-tagte him hiſ wif a-non, And hiſ yuel ſort[148] waſ ouer-gon.

his wife and others bore children, and the quinsy no more troubled him.

His wif and oðere birðe beren, ða ðe ſwinacie gan him nu_n_mor deren. 1188 Abimalech gaf abraham Gold, and ſiluer, and lond for-ðan;

Plates of silver he gave to Sarah.

A ðhuſant plates of ſilu_er_ god Gaf he ſarra ðat faire blod, 1192 Bad hire ðor hir wið[149] heuod ben hid, for ſwilc timing was hire bi-tid. Ðo wulde god bi-ſewen ſo of olde abraha_m_ and o ſarra ſo. 1196 Ghe wurd wið child, on elde wac,

The birth of Isaac.

And trimede and cleped it yſaac.

[145] _for_ ſtinkende

[146] _read_ aſ?

[147] MS. w

[148] fort in MS.

[149] _read_ ðor wið hir

THE BANISHMENT OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.

[Fol. 24.]

ðe egtende dai ðat he waſ boren,

He was circumcised on the eighth day,

Circu_m_ciſed he waſ, a-buten ſchoren; 1200 ðor-of holden ðe ieuwes lay, Circu_m_ciſed on ðe egtende day. Arabit folc of yſmael,

which custom the Jews follow.

After him don he it al ſwilk ſel, 1204 Q_u_ane he .xiii. ger ben old; Of yſmael here time iſ told.

When Isaac was three years old Abraham made a great feast.

Ðre ger woren yſaac on, Q_u_ane he waſ fro teding don; 1208 Michel geſtni_n_ge made abraham Q_u_ane he ðat ſune to borde nam. Wintres forð-wexen on yſaac,

Ishmael often mocked Isaac,

And yſmael waſ him vn-ſwac; 1212 Of-ten it gan yſaac un-framen, And yſmael pleide hard gamen;

which caused Sarah to be very wroth.

Sarra waſ ðor-fore often wroð, Hir waſ yſmaeles anger loð; 1216

She complains to Abraham.

Ghe bi-mente hire to abraham, And ſumdel ligtlike he it nam Til god him bad iſ wiues tale Liſten, and don a-wei ðat dwale. 1220 Abraham rapede hi_m_ ſone i_n_ ſped for to fulfillen godeſ reed;

Abraham banishes Hagar and her son.

He flemede agar and yſmael In ſumertid, In egeſt ſel; 1224

[Fol. 24b.]

Bred, and a fetles wið water fild, Bar agar wið hire and wið ðe child;

By the desert they took their way.

Bi ðe deſert a-wei che nam, In ard weie and hete gram; 1228 Wið ſwinc and hete hem wexon ðriſt,

They became very thirsty.

ðe water ſleckede ðe childeſ liſt; Tid-like hem gan ðat wat_er_ laken,

The water in the bottle became spent.

ðo gan agareſ ſorwe waken; 1232 Wantede ðit child faierneſſe and migt, Hiſ moder wurð neg dead for frigt.

ABIMELECH COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM,

Hagar placed her child under a tree,

Ghe leide ðe child under a tre, fer ðeðen ghe gede, ſo it gan be, 1236 ðe child ne mai ghe for ſorge ſen; Bi al-ſo fer ſo a boge mai ten,

and sat as far as a bow-shot off.

ðor ſat hiſ moder in ſik and ſor,

She thought it could not recover.

wende ghe it cou_er_en neu_er_e mor. 1240 Goddeſ merci dede hire reed,

An angel showed her a well-spring,

An angel meðede hire ðat ned, Tagte hire ðor a welle ſpring, ðat waſ hire ðor ſeli timing; 1244

and she gave the lad drink and bread.

ðor ghe gan fremen yſmael Wið watreſ drinc and bredeſ mel,

Forth they went and dwelt in Paran.

filt hire feteleſ, and na_m_ fro ðan forð to ðe deſert of [150]pharan; 1248

Ishmael married an Egyptian woman.

ðor wunede yſmael and agar. Ghe cheſ him a wif ðe childre bar;

[Fol. 25.] Twelve sons he had, of whom sprang great nations.

.xii. ſuneſ he auede bi hiſ wif, Of him cam kinde mikil and rif. 1252 Nabachot waſ hiſ firſt ſune,

In Arabia they dwelt.

In arabie hiſ kinde wune fro ðe riche flod eufrate, Wid and fer to ðe rede ſe; 1256

Kedar gave name to a kingdom.

Of hiſ oðer ſune cedar, A ku[n]griche hiſ name bar;

From Dumah came the kingdom of Dirima.

And of duma hiſ ſexte ſune, A ku[n]gdom dirima ðu mune; 1260 Hiſ .ix. waſ tema for-ðan,

Teman gets its name from Tema.

Iſ ðor a ku[n]glond teman; And .xii. of ðe cedima, Het a guglond[151] eſten fro ða. 1264 Flemd waſ agar and yſmael, and yſaac wex and ðehg wol wel.

Abimelech makes a covenant with Abraham,

Abimalech ſag abraham, Hu welðe him wex and migte cam, 1268 He bad him maken ſiker pligt Of luue and trewðe, in frendeſ rigt,

[150] _w_ MS.

[151] _read_ kunglond

AND GIVES HIM THE WELL OF BEERSHEBA.

ðat ne ſulde him nogwer deren, Oc him and hiſe helpen and weren; 1272

and gives him the well of Beersheba.

He gaf hi_m_ a welle and a lond fre, Abraham it clepede berſabe; ðor ben he boðen feren pligt ðat here neiðer ſal don oðer un-rigt. 1276

[Fol. 25b.]

Abraham gan ðor longe ben, And tillede corn and ſette treen,

Abraham left the land much richer than he found it.

ðog [it] waſ nogt iſ kinde lond; Richere he it leet ðan he it fond. 1280 Iff ioſephus ne legeð me, ðor q_u_iles he wunede in berſabe,

When Isaac was twenty-five years old,

ſo waſ yſaaceſ eld told xx. and fiwe winter old; 1284

God's word came to Abraham,—

ðo herde abraha_m_ ſteuene fro gode, Newe tiding, and ſelkuð bode:—

"Take Isaac thy son,

"Tac ðin ſune yſaac in hond, And far wið him to ſiðhingeſ lond, 1288

and offer him on a hill that I shall show thee."

And ðor ðu ſalt him offren me On an hil ðor ic ſal taunen ðe." fro berſabe iurneſ two Waſ ðat lond ðat he bed him two;[152] 1292

Moriah that hill was called.

And morie, men ſeið, waſ ðat hil, ðat god him tawne[de] i_n_ his wil;

Upon this hill was afterwards built Solomon's temple.

Men ſeið ðat dune-iſ ſiðen on Was mad temple ſalamon, 1296 And ðe auter mad on ðat ſtede ðor abraha_m_ he[153] offrande dede.

Abraham was obedient to God's commands.

Abraham waſ buxu_m_ o rigt, Hiſe weie he tok ſone bi nigt; 1300 ðe ðrid[d]e day he ſagt ðe ſtede ðe god him witen in herte dede;

[Fol. 26.] He came to the hill and sent his servants away.

ðan he cam dun to ðo duneſ fot, Non of hiſ men forðere ne mot, 1304 But yſaac iſ dere childe,

Isaac bare the wood,

He bar ðe wude wið herte mild,

[152] _read_ to

[153] _read_ ðe

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC.

and Abraham the fire and the sword.

And abraham ðe fier and ðe ſwerd bar; ðo wurð ðe child witt_er_ and war 1308 ðat ðor ſal offrende ben don, Oc ne wiſte he q_u_uat, ne q_u_or-on;

"Where," quoth Isaac, "is the offering that thou wilt make?"

"fader," q_u_að he, "q_u_ar ſal ben taken ðe offrende ðat ðu wilt maken?" 1312

Quoth Abraham, "God will provide the offering.

Q_u_at abraha_m_, "god ſal bi-ſen Q_u_or-of ðe ofrende ſal ben;

In a wonderful manner thou camest into the world, and so shalt thou depart hence.

Sellik ðu art on wer[l]de cumen, Sellic ðu ſalt ben heðen numen; 1316 Wið-uten long ðhrowing and figt, God wile ðe taken of werlde nigt,

God requires thee as an offering."

And of ðe seluen holocaustu_m_ hauen, ðanc it him ðat he it wulde crauen." 1320

Isaac was ready to be sacrificed.

Yſaac waſ redi mildelike, Quan ðat he it wiſte witt_er_like. Oc abraham it wulde wel q_u_at-ſo god bad, ðwerted he it neu_er_ a del; 1324

Isaac was placed upon the altar.

Yſaac waſ leid ðat auter on, So men ſulden holocauſt don;

Abraham drew out his sword to slay his son, but an angel forbad him to harm the child.

And abraha_m_ ðat ſwerd ut-drog, And waſ redi to ſlon hi_m_ nuge,[154] 1328

[Fol. 26b.]

Oc angel it him for-bed, And barg ðe child fro ðe dead; ðo wurð abraha_m_ frigti fagen, for yſaac bi-leaf un-ſlagen; 1332 Bi-aften bak, aſ he nam kep,

A ram is offered instead of Isaac.

faſte in ðornes he ſag a ſep, ðat an angel ðor-inne dede; It waſ brent on yſaac ſtede. 1336

Ere Abraham departed God swore to him that his seed should inherit the land.

And, or abraham ðeðen for, God hi_m_ ðor bi hi_m_-ſeluen ſwor ðat he ſal michil hiſ kinde maken, And ðat lond he_m_ to honde taken; 1340 Good ſelðhe ſal him cumen on, for he ðiſ dede wulde don.

[154] _read_ nog?

ELIEZER IS SENT TO MESOPOTAMIA.

Abraham went home joyful and glad.

He wente bliðe and fagen agen, To berſabe he gunne teen, 1344 Sarra waſ fagen in kindes wune, ðat [hire][155] bilef ðat dere ſune.

While at Beersheba he heard good tidings of Nahor.

Ðor q_u_iles abraham wunede ðor, Him cam good tiding of nachor, 1348 ðat melca bar him egte ſunen;

Huz was Nahor's first-born.

Huſ waſ eldeſt, if we rigt munen.

Job came of his kin.

Rigt-wiſ iob cam of hiſ kin, Hus lond he waſ riche wid-hin;[156] 1352

Of Buz came the Buzites, Eliv and Balaam.

Of[157] buz, hiſ broðeres kin, cam Buzites, Eliv, Balaam.

[Fol. 27.] Abraham went again to Mamre.

Abraham, riche of welðe and wale, wente a-gen in to manbre dale; 1356

Sarah died being 127 years old.

Sarra ðo ſtarf, an hundred ger old And ſeuene and .xx. winter told.

Abraham sent Eliezer to Mesopotamia,

Abraham ſente eliezer to lond meſopotanie fer, 1360 To caram ðor iſ fader lay, (Or he cam ðor waſ manie day)

to fetch a wife for Isaac.

To fechen yſaac hom a wif, Of hiſ kinde ðe ðor waſ in lif. 1364

Ten camels he took with him.

Ten kameles ſemeð[158] forð he nam,

Eliezer came to a well without the city.

Wið michel ſwinc he ðider cam At a welle wið-uten ðe tun; ðor he leide hiſe ſemes dun, 1368

He there prayed to God to send him good speed.

ðor he wulde him reſten and ben, Sum good tiding heren or ſen. "Lou_er_d god," q_u_að he mildelike, "min erdne ðu forðe ſelðhelike, 1372 ðiſ dai me lene hire to ſen, ðat ſal yſaaces leman ben."

He offered his prayer in a good time.

He bad hiſe bede on good ſel. Rebecca, bi-geten of batuel, 1376

[155] MS. hire is written over in the later hand.

[156] _read_ wið-hin

[157] MS. "Ob."

[158] _read_ ſemede?

ELIEZER MEETS WITH REBEKAH.

Rebekah came to that well,

Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren, Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren,

and she gave him and his camel water to drink.

And hi_m_ and ilc-on his kamel Wið watres drinc ghe q_ue_mede wel. 1380

[Fol. 27b.]

Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen, Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen.

Eliezer learned that she was of the family of Nahor.

Eliezer lerede ðor ðat batuel cam of nachor; 1384 Of batuel ðis maiden cam ghe waſ forð nifte of abraha_m_;

Thought he, this maiden will I have as a wife for Isaac.

ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen And to min lou_er_des bofte bi-crauen;[159] 1388 for kindes luue he waſ hire hold,

He gave her ear-rings and bracelets of gold.

Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold, Aſkede here if ghe migte taken Herberge for hire frendes ſake[n]. 1392 Maiden rebecca ðanne ran, And kiddit to hire broðer laban,

Laban came to the well, invited him home, and entertained him well.

And laban cam to ðat welle ner, faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer, 1396 And[160] fond good grið and good hostel, Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel.

Eliezer would not eat till he had told his errand;

Eliezer, or he wulde eten, Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten; 1400 Al he tolde hem fro q_ue_ðen he cam, And for q_u_at erdene he ðider nam; Tolde hem tiding of abraham, Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam, 1404

how he had been sent by Abraham to seek a wife for Isaac.

Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune, After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune.

[Fol. 28.]

ſeide he, "rebecca wile ic hauen, To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen. 1408

Laban and the mother were well pleased with the messenger.

Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man;

[159] _read_ bi-ofte crauen? _v._ l. 1408.

[160] Anð MS.

ISAAC TAKES REBEKAH TO WIFE.

(Quan god haueð it ſo bi-ſen, Alſe he ſendet, alſ it ſal ben.) 1412

With gold and silver and raiment Eliezer made the maiden proud.

Wið gold, and ſilu_er_, and wið ſrud, ðiſ ſonde made ðe mayden prud;

Gifts also he gave to the brother and mother.

ðe broðer and de[161] moder oc Riche gifteſ eliezer ðe[162] toc. 1416 Sone o-morwen he gan hi_m_ garen,

No longer than one night would he delay his errand.

And crauede hiſ erdene, and wolde ho_m_ faren, for ſcrið, ne mede, ne wold he ðor Ou_er_ on nigt drechen nu_n_mor; 1420 And ðo gan ðat moder and laban

Rebekah's consent was first asked and obtained.

Rebecca freinen ðor for-ðan, And ghe it grantede mildelike, And he hire bi-tagten bliðelike. 1424

For this reason men ask the woman's will before she is given in marriage.

Siðen men hauen holden ſkil, firſt to freinen ðe wi_m_maneſ wil, Or or men hire to lou_er_d giue, for wedding or for morgen-giwe. 1428

Eliezer takes his departure, wishing all a good day.

Eliezer iſ went hiſ wei And haueð hem boden godun dai. Or he wel homward cumen was, Yſaac waſ cume to geraſis, 1432

[Fol. 28b.] Isaac mourned for the death of his mother.

And wunede ðor in ðogt and care, for moderes dead and ſondes fare. In a weie an time he cam, And to a welle, ſigande, he nam, 1436 ðohgteful he waſ on felde gon; Eliezer him cam a-gon,

Eliezer brought him a wife by whom he was comforted.

Eððede hiſ ſorge, brogt him a wif Of faiger waspene,[163] of clene lif. 1440 He fagnede hire wið milde mod, Here ſameni[n]g was clene and god;

Isaac loved Rebekah well, and she never contradicted him.

He luuede hire on-like and wel, And ſge ne bi-ſpac him neu_er_e a del. 1444

[161] _read_ ðe

[162] _read_ ðo?

[163] An error for wasteme.

THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB.

Men say that Abraham called Hagar Keturah.

Get men seyn[164] ðat abraham, ſiðen calde agar ceturam,

She bore him seven sons.

And ſge bar him ſiðen ſex ſunen; Abraham dede hem ſiðen ſundri wunen; 1448 fer eſt fro cratonidé, Weren he ſpred to ðe rede se. Yſaac he let al hiſ god, for he waſ bi-geten of kinde blod. 1452

Abraham died at the age of 175.

An hundred ger hold and ſeuenti And .v. he waſ leid ſarram bi. boðen yſaac and yſmael Him bi-ſtoden wurlike and wel. 1456

Ishmael was 137 years old when he died.

On hundred ger and .xxxvij. Liuede yſmael and waſ ðor bi.

[Fol. 29.] Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife.

Yſaac waſ hold .xl. ger Quanne rebecca cam him ner; 1460 Longe it waſ or ghe him child bar,

Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, who was barren.

And he bad god, qua_n_ne he it wurð war, ðat he ſulde fillen ðat quede ðat he[165] abraham q_u_ilum dede. 1464 ðo wurð rebecca childre bere,

Rebekah conceived.

ðat ghe felte ful time i_n_ gere; At on burdene ghe under-stod two ðe weren hire ſibbe blod; 1468 Alſe ðhute hire day and nigt,

The children struggled together within her.

Alſe he wrogten and[166] figt, Queðer here ſulde birðen bi-foren.

Esau was the first born, and Jacob was born soon after.

Oc eſau waſ firmeſt boren, 1472 And iacob ſone after, ic wot, for ðat he heldim bi ðe fot.

Sixty years was Isaac at this time.

Sexti ger yſaac waſ old, Quan ðiſ tidi[n]g him waſ told; 1476 Ghe[167] was abraham liues her, After ðiſ, fiftene ger.

[164] _seyn_ is at the side in a later hand.

[165] In a later hand at the side.

[166] _read_ an?

[167] _read_ get

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FIRST BORN.

Isaac's sons grew up and had different occupations.

Wexen boden yſaac ſunes, And ðhogen, and adden ſundri wunes; 1480